'learning games for babies' is a series of ten paintings in which the first and last in the sequence represent quotation-marks, and each of the panels they enclose represents one letter of the alphabet (or two letters in the case of one panel) - adding up to a simple phrase of two (english) words

study the pictures before glancing at
solution

clue: the phrase might be the first two words uttered by a new-born babe as it surveys the awaiting world and puts voice to the most basic instinct...

example #1: a person standing before a painting may require assistance if any meaning or message buried within it is to be understood
- a group of individuals will differ in their interpretations and may never agree on what they see

trick question: how do six billion human individuals solve the planet's multitude of problems (assuming they can agree on what they are or that they are aware of them at all) while the majority are in no condition to be concerned with anything but vital needs and the rest are happy to ignore the gathering storm so long as their own comforts are not compromised?

simple equation: each time a human-being washes its hands of any universal dilemma on the grounds that it is insoluble, the chances of the species overcoming its hardships are reduced by the utmost significant number: one

example #2: while an adult confronted with a series of apparently complex problems fails to see the answer staring him in the face, or refuses even to see the problem, a child is able to arrive at the crux of a matter at a glance


1999, acrylic on canvas, 1m x 1m x 10